Writing a summary is an essential skill for IGCSE students, as it tests your ability to understand, condense, and present information clearly and concisely. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you write an effective summary:
Purpose: The goal is to condense a longer text into a shorter, concise version, highlighting the key points and main ideas.1
Word Count: Pay close attention to the specified word count. You must stay within the limit.
Focus: Identify the specific focus of the summary question. What aspects of the text are you required to summarize?
Objectivity: Summaries should be objective, meaning you should present the author's ideas without inserting your own opinions or interpretations.
First Read: Read the passage once to get a general understanding of the content.
Second Read: Read again more carefully, noting important details, main ideas, and supporting points.
Highlight Key Points: Underline or highlight the most important facts, figures, arguments, or points that answer the question posed in the summary task. Avoid minor details, examples, or repetitions.
Determine the central theme or argument of the text.
Break the passage into sections or paragraphs and identify the main idea of each.
Ask yourself: "What are the most important things the author is saying?"
Ignore anecdotes, quotes, or overly descriptive language unless they are central to the main idea.
Make an Outline: Make a brief outline or list of the main points you want to include.
Organize Main Ideas: Organize the main points in each paragraph in a logical order, following the structure of the original text.
Eliminate Irrelevant Details: Remove any unnecessary details such as examples, anecdotes, or elaborate descriptions that don't contribute to the main message of the passage.
Structure: Plan a clear structure. Organize your ideas logically, ensuring your summary follows a coherent flow from one point to the next.
Use Your Own Words: Use your own vocabulary and sentence structure. Rephrase the key points in your own words, avoiding direct quotations from the text unless absolutely necessary.
Be Concise: Stick to the word limit provided in the exam instructions. Avoid unnecessary details, examples, or anecdotes. Focus on the core information.
Keep It Objective: Use formal and objective language. A summary should be factual and neutral. Avoid personal opinions or interpretations.
Use Linking Words: Use connecting words (e.g., "however," "therefore," "in addition", "Furthermore", "Moreover", "However", "Therefore", "In addition", and "Consequently".) to ensure your summary flows smoothly.
Organize Logically: Ensure that your summary is logically organized and easy to understand. Write in the third person unless the text is a personal account.
Accuracy: Ensure that your summary accurately reflects the main ideas of the original text. Double-check that you've not missed any crucial information.
Clarity: Ensure that your writing is clear and easy to understand. Avoid complex sentences or excessive jargon. Use simple and direct language.
Word Count: If the exam provides a word limit, make sure you stay within that limit. Practice summarizing within the specified word count to ensure you can manage it effectively under exam conditions.
Proofread: After writing your summary, take a few minutes to check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes. Check for accuracy, clarity, and conciseness.
Revise: If needed, revise any awkward or unclear sentences. Make sure the summary flows logically and smoothly.
Use Short Sentences: A summary should be clear and to the point, so aim to use short, straightforward sentences.
Avoid Personal Opinions: Do not include personal judgments, opinions, or interpretations. The summary should reflect only the main points of the text.
Stay Neutral: Your tone should remain neutral. Avoid emotive or biased language.
Focus on the Main Points: Summaries should emphasize the most important ideas, not the details.
Expand Your Vocabulary: A strong vocabulary will help you paraphrase effectively.
Understand Text Structure: Recognizing how texts are organized (e.g., cause and effect, comparison and contrast) will help you identify key points.